The Journal of Language, Identity and Education is seeking submissionsfor a special topic issue that examines sexual identities withinlanguage education (or language-in-education) contexts. This specialtopic issue, entitled 'Queer inquiry in language education', willprovide a unique and timely forum for exploring questions such as:

* Has the proliferation of increasingly visible lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer identities and communities led to a re-thinking of language teaching practices? * What challenges and opportunities arise for students, teachers, teacher educators and other stakeholders in language or literacy education when attempts are made to foster classroom inquiry about sexual identities? * How might queer theory be of use in moving beyond monosexual pedagogies, especially in teaching contexts that are intercultural and multilingual? * How might these questions be addressed, or need to be reframed, with reference to language-focused programs in regions of the world that tend to be under-represented in literature on gay/queer matters in education? * What innovations in theory, pedagogy, policy or praxis are needed in order to engage a range of sexual identities - both as subject matter and as participant positionings - within language and literacy programs?

The Journal of Language, Identity and Education invites contributions tothis special topic issue to be published in 2005. We are solicitingpapers that critically examine the domain of sexual identity withinsecond language, foreign language or literacy programs, or othereducation programs in which language is a central focus. Papers mayengage with a diversity of teaching contexts and levels (e.g. primary,secondary, tertiary, adult or community-based education), approaches toknowledge production, and theoretical frameworks, though all papers areexpected to consider questions of identity, subjectivity orrepresentation as explored in queer theory or other frameworks(poststructuralist, feminist, postcolonialist). Contributions fromnontraditional settings and under-represented scholarly circles areencouraged.

We are currently soliciting two- to three-page abstracts for this issue.(Brief proposals for book reviews are also welcome.) Send by e-mail orsnail mail two copies of the abstract and a brief (50-word) biographicalstatement with a full mailing address, daytime/evening phone numbers,and email address (if available). Abstracts should be mailed no laterthan March 1, 2004 to the following address: